The HBO series DTF St. Louis continues to twist expectations in its fifth episode, titled “Amphezyne.” What started as what seemed like a straightforward murder investigation for Detective Homer (Richard Jenkins) has now turned into a complicated web of unusual relationships, hidden pasts, and a victim who was far more complex than anyone imagined. The episode, which aired on March 29, 2026, forces both the detectives and the audience to rethink everything they thought they knew about Floyd Smernitch (David Harbour) and the people closest to him.
The central idea of this episode is simple: things are not as cut and dry as they appear. Detective Homer, a big city cop who thought he had seen it all, made the mistake of believing that suburban folks lived normal lives. Episode 5 spends its runtime proving that no one in this story fits the label of “normal.”
Detective Homer’s Investigation Hits a Wall of Secrets
The episode opens with a surprising image: a younger, fitter Floyd featured in a nude Playgirl magazine. This image is not just for shock value. It serves as a key to understanding who Floyd was before his death. The man found dead at the public pool, with a swollen belly and a spilled can of Bloody Mary, is a shadow of his former self. The lethal dose of the drug Amphezyne found in his drink connects directly to his struggles with his body, his pride, and his sense of manhood.
Homer and his partner, Detective Jodie Plumb (Joy Sunday), continue their interviews, but each conversation only raises more questions. When they question Floyd’s wife, Carol (Linda Cardellini), her behavior sets off alarm bells. Carol refuses to answer questions about her past criminal record. She cites a Missouri state law that protects people from having to discuss sealed or expunged convictions. Her answers to basic questions feel fake, and her attempts to describe sweet memories with Floyd seem made up on the spot.
“That was weird. She was weird… A lot of wows with that lady.”
— Detective Homer’s reaction after interviewing Carol
Homer and Plumb are not getting the easy answers they expected. The more they dig, the stranger the case becomes.
The Truth About Floyd, Clark, and Carol Changes Everything
Episode 5 delivers a major twist that redefines the entire investigation. The affair between Clark (Jason Bateman) and Carol was not a secret that sent Floyd into a jealous rage. In a flashback, viewers see Floyd confront Clark about the relationship using American Sign Language. But instead of anger, Floyd expresses happiness. With his own lack of sexual desire due to his medical issues, Floyd simply wanted Carol to be happy. His only request? To be allowed to watch sometimes so he would not feel left out.
This changes the meaning of a scene from the previous episode where Floyd was seen hiding in a hotel closet. It turns out he was not spying out of suspicion. He was there because Carol and Clark knew about it. Floyd even used his loyalty discount to get them a cheaper room at the Quality Garden Suites. Through financial records, Plumb discovers that the three were effectively a throuple.
One flashback shows Floyd bursting out of the closet not to catch his wife and best friend, but to save a blind teenager who was walking toward the pool. The boy had been dropped off at the wrong parking lot for a homecoming dance. Floyd guides him to safety with kindness and patience. Carol and Clark watch from the window, both clearly admiring Floyd’s character.
This information forces Homer and Plumb to ask a difficult question: If Floyd was okay with the arrangement, who wanted him dead?
Carol’s Suspicious Behavior and Hidden Past Take Center Stage
Even with the new understanding of the trio’s relationship, Carol remains the prime suspect. Evidence against her builds throughout the episode. Plumb goes to extreme lengths to uncover Carol’s sealed criminal past. She submits a job application to the police department using Carol’s name, which triggers a full background check that includes the sealed case.
The detectives also secure a warrant to search Carol’s garage. Inside, they find the missing bicycle—the same type of bike believed to have been used as the murder weapon on the night Floyd died. The flashbacks also show that Carol knew exactly how dangerous Amphezyne could be. She asked Floyd directly whether a larger dose would kill him.
Yet the episode also shows moments that make her guilt uncertain. In several flashbacks, Carol’s face lights up with genuine admiration for Floyd. The show makes a point of showing that she truly loved him.
Clark’s Silence and a Strange Story About Floyd’s Past
Clark’s behavior also takes on new meaning in this episode. He is facing the possibility of the death penalty for first-degree murder. He has finally hired a lawyer, but his main concern is not his own safety. He wants to stop any more details from coming out because he believes the full story would hurt Floyd, even though Floyd is already dead.
During a flashback, Floyd tells Clark a strange story about how his life took an unexpected turn. He saved a man from being hit by a car and gave an interview praising the man’s parents. While distracted, he got into an accident that broke both his wrists. With casts on both arms, he tried to open an umbrella by holding it between his legs. A passing motorcycle sent the umbrella flying. While chasing it, he saw people using ASL through the window of a Deaf center. He decided right then to dedicate his life to helping people communicate. He never went to a job interview for a finance position, which angered Carol.
The story leaves Clark confused about why Floyd’s penis—the curved penis mentioned earlier in the season—is relevant. The answer remains unclear, but the episode suggests it holds the key to something important.
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A Three-Way Relationship Built on Unusual Terms
The most revealing flashback shows Floyd sharing his vision for the future. He wants to take Amphezyne so he can be “full on” with Carol. In his plan, he would be the one with Carol while Clark watches from the closet. Floyd wants to switch places with Clark so he does not feel small and Clark does not feel guilty for making him feel that way.
Carol asks Floyd again whether a bigger dose of the drug could kill him. Later, when Floyd goes inside to get lemonade and finds none, Carol and Clark share a private conversation outside. The audience cannot hear what they say. When Floyd returns, there is a moment where the weight of their financial struggles seems to settle in Carol’s mind.
The episode ends with the mystery deeper than ever. Carol has the bike, the knowledge, and the opportunity. But Clark’s refusal to talk comes from a desire to protect Floyd’s memory, not from guilt. The sealed criminal record remains unknown. And the strange story about Floyd’s curved penis still holds an unrevealed answer.
DTF St. Louis airs new episodes Sundays on HBO.
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